NHS staff and social carers get free parking

Government will cover the costs of providing free car parking to NHS staff working in hospitals

Discussions between central government, NHS trusts and local authorities have led to an agreement to offer free car parking to NHS workers, social care staff and other key workers.

Hospital parking
The government will cover the costs of providing free car parking to NHS staff working in hospitals. The health secretary thus urged all trusts to immediately make use of government funding to abolish parking charges for their staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. NHS trusts are responsible for setting car parking charges locally.

The changes will apply to hospitals in England as parking is already free at almost all NHS hospitals in Wales and Scotland.

On 26 March, Matt Hancock announced: “In the face of this global pandemic it is essential NHS and social care staff are able to carry out their vital work without worrying about paying for car parking.

“Government is rightly committing to providing the financial backing NHS trusts need to make this a reality in hospitals for the duration of this viral outbreak. We will provide free car parking for our NHS staff that are going above and beyond the call of duty every day in hospitals across England. My enormous gratitude goes out to the many NHS Trusts and other organisations already providing free car parking and I urge other trusts to do the same with our backing.”

NHS chief executive Simon Stevens praised NHS trusts that were already providing free car parking to staff working on the front line. Stevens said: “Free parking will make a big difference for hundreds of thousands of front line staff, but this is just the start, and we will setting out further support offers over the coming days and weeks, to ensure the NHS looks after those who look after all of us.”

The large number of volunteers and retired NHS staff coming forward to work on the front line means that some hospitals will require additional car parking capacity.

Local authority provision
Under measures agreed by local government secretary Robert Jenrick, all councils in England and the Local Government Association (LGA), critical key workers are able to use council parking bays without time restriction or charge.

Jenrick said: “Our NHS staff and social care workers are working round the clock to save lives and should not have to worry about the cost or time restrictions of parking. Which is why, I’ve agreed with the LGA and councils in England to provide free car parking, on council owned on-street spaces and car parks. By working together we are able to support these heroes as they play a front line role in our national effort to tackle the coronavirus crisis.”

The changes suspend charges for health workers, social care workers and NHS volunteers and apply to all on-street parking and council-run car parks.

On 6 April, the government launched a parking pass scheme for critical workers who are eligible for free parking from local authorities. Council parking teams are not required to administer the pass scheme, as the pass will be distributed via employer networks to NHS staff, health and social care workers and NHS volunteers and will be accompanied by guidance about its use. However, councils will need to make their front line teams aware of what the pass looks like and of the guidance.

The pass and guidance will not be published to reduce the risk of misuse.

Where special COVID-19 permit systems for critical workers have already been set up by a council they should continue as the pass does not need to replace them.

Cllr James Jamieson, chairman of the LGA, said: “Many councils have already suspended parking charges in council-run car parks and for on-street parking and have waived all fines on appeal for critical workers. Councils agree and have worked with government to develop this scheme that now means no health worker, social care worker or anyone volunteering for the NHS, should have to pay parking charges as they tackle the coronavirus and support communities. These critical workers are all doing vital work to support the most vulnerable in our society and councils want to do all they can to support them.

NHS and social care workers in the capital will be able to park for free in council-run car parks, said London Councils. Cllr Julian Bell, chair of the transport and environment committee (TEC), said: “Having already agreed a flexible approach to parking enforcement to help key workers across the capital, boroughs are pleased to say that London’s NHS staff and social care workforce will be able to park their cars for free in council parking locations. To protect parking for key workers and keep London’s roads moving, the government has also confirmed that some essential parking enforcement must continue and therefore council enforcement staff should be out on the streets where necessary, while practicing social distancing. Essential enforcement includes ensuring that access for emergency vehicles such as ambulances and fire appliances is maintained.”